Nicotine Could Ease Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 24, 2007 (KGO) -- Scientists at the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale say nicotine may help ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and possibly slow its progression.

"I was having lunch with a friend and I couldn't keep salad on the fork," said Glenn Valois, Parkinson's patient.

Glenn Valois was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than three years ago.

Patients like him will eventually have uncontrollable, sometimes jerky movements caused by the medication used to treat the disease known as levodopa.

"So to the point where you can't drink probably, you can't dress properly," said Maryka Quik, Ph.D., Parkinson's Institute.

Maryka Quik is a researcher with the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale. For two months, researchers there gave nicotine-laced water to squirrel monkeys.

"What we found was if you gave the nicotine and then you gave the animals l-dopa, the levadopa, the compound that's used to treat Parkinson's disease, these dyskinetic-like movements happened a lot less, about 50 percent less," said Quik.

The jerky movements were cut in half. About 1.5 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease.

Brain cells produce something called dopamine, which helps cells talk to each other. Parkinson's disease occurs when these brain cells die off.

"Nicotine seems to protect the dopamine neurons from degenerating in Parkinson's disease," said Quik.

The study suggests nicotine could slow down the progression of the disease.

Dr. Robert Miller is Chairman of the Department of Neurology at California Pacific Medical Center. He's cautiously optimistic about the study.

"I specialize in Lou Gehrig's disease and we've seen lots of things work in most models, animal models for Lou Gehrig's disease, that when we try them in people, they just haven't worked out or occasionally it's made them worse," said Miller.

While studies have shown nicotine increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, researchers agree most patients are willing to accept some risk if they can have a better quality of life.

Dr. Quik is now talking to pharmaceutical companies and venture capitalists to try to fund future clinical trials.

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